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Munich - The Bundesliga may be the most dramatic and exciting league in the world, but it also has its light-hearted side. To bring you a step closer to Germany's more colourful off-pitch stories, here's Off The Ball, bundesliga.com's quirky weekday feature.

In today's edition we take a look at the charitable defending champions FC Bayern München, a family celebration and one of the more bizarre incidents to have taken place on the touchlines.

Prior to FC Bayern's 2-1 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the German record title-holders donated €220,000 to the charity ‘Deutsche Sporthilfe’, who currently support and sponsor around 3,800 German athletes in over 50 different sports. Just over half of the total amount came from money made from sales of the limited edition shirt in the month leading up to the match. Furthermore, the name of each person to buy the jersey was printed onto the players' shirts to make the shape of the Deutsche Sporthilfe logo.

Hamburger SV's was delighted to win against 1. FC Nürnberg on Sunday, with the 2-1 home victory giving HSV their seventh point in their last four games. The 31-year-old's son, Damian, was also clearly delighted with the result, which took his dad's team to a point above the relegation zone in Bundesliga table.

In 1. FSV Mainz 05's sensational 4-2 triumph away to 1899 Hoffenheim at the weekend, home captain Andreas Beck was attempting to lead by example in fighting tooth and nail to keep the ball in play. However, the 27-year-old stumbled over some advertising boards and flew headfirst into a cameraman. The unfortunate victim suffered concussion and was transported to hospital where he “was able to communicate again,” according to Hoffenheim press spokesman Holger Tromp.

Sebastian Mühlhaus

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